World’s Largest Solar Power Plant Now Under Construction In California

What is to be the world’s biggest solar panel power plant is now under construction in sunny California. The massive solar development is expected to take 3 years to complete.

The joint development between utility MidAmerican Solar and developer SunPower Corp is set to become a 579 megawatt project, employing about 650 workers, and is expected to generate more than $500 million for the region. When finished, the development will generate enough electricity to power about 400,000 average homes, and will displace about 775,000 tons of CO2 per year.

The development is so big that it’s actually being split into two projects. A 309 megawatt plant will be located in Antelope Valley, and will cross the Kern-Los Angeles country line. The other 270 megawatt plant will be located wholly in Kern County.

The president of SunPower, Howard Wenger, has said that he thinks the development “underscores that solar is a reliable, cost-competitive energy source”. Utility Southern California Edison has already agreed to long-term power purchase contracts for the Antelope Valley development.